Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie on Why Brienne Is the Perfect Part

Most fans of HBO’s Game of Thrones would be quick to name Brienne as one of their favorite characters. Brienne is one of the show’s few honorable characters, plus she kicks a lot of butt, and we can’t imagine anyone portraying her but Gwendoline Christie. So we're glad to hear that the actress feels the same way about Jaime Lannister’s bestie.

In an interview with Elle Magazine, Gwendoline says of Brienne, “This is the part I always wanted to play but never knew existed. All the things I had wanted to cloak about myself, that I felt a little ashamed and embarrassed about, had been bullied for, these things had a place they could live — in Brienne.”

Gwendoline, who is 6’3” in real life, had been bullied growing up about her appearance. She confesses, “What [people] said was cruel, but actually they were just confused and shocked. My father always said, 'You can do anything a man can do.’”

It’s no surprise that Gwendoline seems to enjoy a cathartic experience playing Brienne, who is also teased about her appearance, but just owns being herself. Brienne wants to be a knight, even though that’s a “man’s job,” she does it anyway, and she does it extremely well. So thanks Gwendoline, Brienne wouldn’t be the same without you!